In the heart of the Caucasus

Departure for Georgia and arrival in Tbilisi. Overnight stay in Tbilisi (transfers not included).

For overnight flights, early morning arrival in Tbilisi and hotel check-in. Full day dedicated to exploring the Georgian capital, including both the Old Town and the New Town. Begin in Old Tbilisi with a visit to Sioni Cathedral (7th century), then head up to Narikala Fortress (4th century), one of the city's oldest fortifications. Along the way, stop for lunch at a local restaurant (not included), visit the Sulphur Baths and stroll along Rustaveli Avenue, including a visit to the National Museum. Dinner in a traditional restaurant and overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast. Travel along the Georgian Military Highway, visiting the Ananuri complex (17th century). Continue via Gudauri along the Tergi River to Stepantsminda. From there, take local transport through valleys and forests to reach Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m. After the visit, lunch in Stepantsminda and return to Tbilisi. Dinner at leisure and overnight.

Breakfast. Departure westward to visit Mtskheta, the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia, including Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Free lunch in Gori. Along the Silk Road, visit the rock-hewn town of Uplistsikhe (1st millennium BC). Arrival and overnight in Akhaltsikhe, with dinner included.

Departure for Vardzia and visit of the cave city. Founded in the 12th century as a fortified religious complex, it is one of the finest examples of Georgia’s Golden Age. Originally, the site comprised over 3,000 caves and could accommodate up to 50,000 people. Today, it features rock-carved churches with well-preserved frescoes, wine cellars, refectories and hundreds of dwellings. Free lunch en route. Continue towards the legendary land of the Golden Fleece: the Imereti region in western Georgia. Along the way, visit a local ceramics market. Arrival in Kutaisi, the country’s second-largest city, once renowned in ancient times for possessing the Golden Fleece. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Kutaisi, including the 12th-century Gelati Monastery and Academy, an important UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will then have some free time to explore the city and stroll through its historic centre. Lunch will be served in a family home along the way to Tbilisi. Before arrival, you will visit a traditional winery to taste local wines and learn about traditional winemaking methods. Arrival in Tbilisi in the evening. Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

Continue towards the border at Bagratashen (approximately one hour). Change of guide and driver. Proceed to Haghpat Monastery (10th century), one of the most important spiritual and cultural centres of the region. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its unique architecture and its famous gavit. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Dilijan, surrounded by mountains and forests. In the Old Town, you will see typical 19th-century balconies and terraces, reflecting the region’s refined woodcraft tradition. Evening at leisure and dinner on your own. Do not miss the opportunity to take a walk along Northern Avenue towards Republic Square, where you can admire the dancing fountains. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Zvartnots Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Etchmiadzin, the centre of Armenian Christianity and the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit to the Cathedral*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traditional Armenian lunch in a local community. Evening city tour of Yerevan, including all the main highlights of the capital. Yerevan is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, dating back to the 8th century BC. It is a vibrant city with open-air cafés, restaurants, and local markets. During the tour, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Opera House, the majestic biblical Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Northern Avenue, and Republic Square, considered one of the most iconic and famous landmarks of the capital. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. *Recently, restoration works at Etchmiadzin Cathedral have uncovered a new layer of frescoes. For this reason, the cathedral is currently closed to visitors while further research and excavations are ongoing. This means that the visit to the cathedral will not take place and guests may not be able to see the interior of the church.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Garni Village, famous for its 1st-century Hellenistic pagan temple and the extraordinary views over the gorge and surrounding mountains. Descent into the Azat River Gorge, where you will find the “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt Organ”, a formation of basalt columns created by the slow cooling of lava. In Garni, you will take part in the preparation of lavash (traditional Armenian bread, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), with the opportunity to taste freshly baked “brduj” (filled sandwich) with fresh cheese and local herbs. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit to Geghard Monastery (4th century AD, UNESCO World Heritage Site with special protection), home to several churches and tombs carved into the rock. The medieval complex is set within a landscape of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by towering cliffs at the entrance of the Azat Gorge. The site is well known among locals for religious ceremonies, so it is not uncommon to witness such events during the visit. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Khor Virap Monastery (4th century AD), located at the foot of Mount Ararat, and to the Bird’s Cave (Areni-1), a 6,100-year-old cave situated in the village of Areni. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit to Noravank Monastery, an architectural gem set among brick-red cliffs above a deep gorge. Built in the 13th century, the monastery is a fine example of the richly decorated architecture of the period. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Goris.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Khndzoresk, located on a steep gorge slope and consisting of both natural and man-made caves, inhabited until the 1950s. You will cross the Khndzoresk “Swinging Bridge”, suspended over the gorge and connecting the old village with the new one. Reaching the bridge requires descending a long staircase; a 4x4 vehicle service is available on site for those with difficulties. You will then take the “Wings of Tatev”, the world’s longest aerial tramway, offering breathtaking views over the Vorotan Gorge. At the top, you will reach the Tatev Monastery complex, one of the earliest universities in medieval Europe. Lunch at a local restaurant or family home. Visit to Zorats Karer, the Armenian “Stonehenge”, a prehistoric archaeological site consisting of hundreds of 2-metre-high standing stones with circular holes at the top. According to researchers, Zorats Karer may be among the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Vayk.

Breakfast at the hotel. Follow the historic Silk Road (14th century) and visit the Selim Caravanserai, a monument recalling the time when Armenia was a crossroads of economic, cultural, and military exchange. Continue to the village of Noratus, near Lake Sevan, famous for its ancient cemetery featuring khachkars used as tombstones. Lunch at a local restaurant. Scenic drive along the “Pearl of Armenia”, Lake Sevan. Dinner at leisure.

Transfer to the airport and departure (transfers not included).